Civil Society concerned over delay in naming Srinagar Intl Airport

SRINAGAR: Several political and social organizations have expressed serious concern over the delay in naming of the Srinagar Airport after Kashmirs patron saint Sheikh-ul-Alam (R.A).

With common people and several political and social leaders expressing their wish that the Srinagar Airport be named after Sheikh-ul-Alam, many have shown dissatisfaction over the politicization of the issue.

The issue should remain apolitical and we should not bring politics into the matter, said noted academician from University of Kashmir Professor Hameed Rafiabadi. He said Sheikh-ul-Alam, Noor-ud-din Noorani is the torch bearer of Kashmiri society and his name is Kashmirs identity.

The National Conference senior leader Dr. Mustafa Kamal said that the time is not ripe for the naming of Srinagar Airport as Sheikh-ul-Alam international Airport. We have to see if the airport is really an international Airport, do international flights take off from here asked Kamal .He further added that the state government was not having its full control over the airport. It is not a civil airport, it is under the control of Airport Authority of India and Indian Air Force looks after it.

Democratic party Nationalist Chief and Minster of Agriculture Ghulam Hasan Mir said that the state government has no authority over naming or the renaming of the airport. It is the Airport Authority of India that decides these things. When asked about the earlier announcement made about the name of the Airport, Mir said that the name was not announced but only proposed.

Peoples Democratic Front (PDF) chief Hakem Yasin and CPI (M) leader Mohammad Yusuf Tarigami said that the Srinagar Airport should be named as Sheikh-ul-Alam international Airport and that it depicts Kashmirs own identity and ethos.

Earlier the Budgams former Deputy Commissioner, Khwaja Farooq Ahmad Renzu said that the name was earlier accepted by the authorities and for two years the Airport was called as Sheikh-ul-Alam International Airport and the name was also registered in the website of Airport Authority of India. Renzu further added that the name Sheikh-ul-Alam international Airport is acceptable to almost all sections of the society. He further mentioned that authorities should make the Srinagar Airport the International Airport in the real sense so that the flights take off for the international routes from it in the same way as they do at Indra Gandhi International Airport New Delhi, Chatra Pati Shivaji Airport Mumbai and Netaji Subbash Chandra Bose Airport, Kokatta. KNS

Name was earlier accepted by the authorities and for two years the Airport was called as Sheikh-ul-Alam International Airport and the name was also registered in the website of Airport Authority of India– Farooq Renzushah.

Be Part of Quality Journalism

Quality journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce and despite all the hardships we still do it. Our reporters and editors are working overtime in Kashmir and beyond to cover what you care about, break big stories, and expose injustices that can change lives. Today more people are reading Kashmir Observer than ever, but only a handful are paying while advertising revenues are falling fast.

Search in Archive

How to Reach Us

About Us

The media in Kashmir, comprising a robust English and vernacular press has a particularly unenviable job to do. The problems faced by it are both universal to the conflict situations and unique to the region.